Meece now chief deputy

Sheriff Callahan also names Horrie, Sajnaj as lieutenants

Grundy County Sheriff Kevin Callahan has appointed Craig Meece as his chief deputy.

In making the announcement on Wednesday, Callahan also announced the promotions of Todd Horrie to lieutenant of the Investigations Division and Mark Sajnaj to lieutenant of the Patrol Division.

A 21-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, Meece, age 41, began his career with the sheriff’s office in December 1991, as a patrol deputy hired by the late Sheriff James Olson.

From 1995 to 1999, Meece was assigned to the Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad (MANS) as a special agent. He received the Metropolitan Enforcement Group (MEG) Director’s Award for exceptional service for working in an undercover capacity involving the purchase of a substantial quantity of narcotics and seizure of property.

Upon returning from MANS, he resumed his role as a patrol deputy.

Promoted to detective sergeant in May of 2004, he became assigned to the Investigations Division and enrolled the office in the "Offender Watch" program, which gives citizens of Grundy County the ability to track violent sex offenders in the community. In 2007, Meece attended the Northwestern Illinois University School of Police Staff and Command.

In November of 2009, he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to lead
the Patrol Division.

He currently serves on the Grundy County Justice Assistance Board. He is a past president of the Grundy County Law Enforcement Managers Association and
a current member of the 100 Club of Grundy County, Illinois Sheriff’s Association,
Fraternal Order of Eagles, Illinois Drug Enforcement Officer Association, and The
Assumption Catholic Church of Coal City.

Meece is a certified lead homicide investigator, juvenile officer, and has been trained in Internet Crimes against Children Investigations. He received letters of commendation throughout his career to include major narcotics investigations and the apprehension of repeat offenders in the Benchmark Bank robberies in Verona.

Born and raised in Coal City, Meece is married to Kiedra Meece, a Minooka Police
Detective. They currently reside in rural Coal City with their son, Colin.

Sheriff Callahan noted Chief Deputy Meece will assist him with the day-to-day
operations of the agency and will oversee specific duties in the Law Enforcement
Divisions of the office.

Sheriff Callahan also named Todd Horrie lieutenant of the Investigations
Division.

Horrie, a 27-year veteran of the sheriff’s office began his career with the
Sheriff’s Office in 1986 as a patrol deputy. Horrie was assigned to the Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad from 1990 through 1993 as a special agent. He was trained in narcotics investigations and was a recipient of the M.E.G. Director’s Award.

Horrie was promoted to sergeant in the Patrol Division in 2000, and was assigned to the Investigations Division in 2009.

Horrie is a graduate of Gardner-South Wilmington High School with the Class of 1983, and a 2001 graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Horrie has attended numerous specialized training courses throughout his career, including gang specialist, child abuse, elder abuse,
advanced interview and interrogation, and domestic-related homicides. He is a certified lead homicide investigator.

He resides in Gardner with his wife, Karen, and their two children, Abby and Scott.

Mark Sajnaj has been promoted to lieutenant of the patrol division.

Mark is a 23-year veteran of the sheriff’s office and began his career as a patrol deputy in 1989. He graduated from Morris Community High School in 1983, and served in the United States Air Force, where he achieved the rank of sergeant, from 1985 through 1989.

He has served the department in the traffic unit, as a patrol deputy, and as a D.A.R.E. officer teaching in the area schools. He is a certified lead homicide investigator.

He received specialized training in traffic crash reconstruction in 1990, and has investigated over 50 severe traffic crashes since that time. He is also a certified defensive tactics instructor.

Sajnaj was promoted to patrol sergeant in December 2004. Sajnaj has spent his entire career assigned to the patrol division, gaining valuable experience. For the last eight years, he has supervised his shift, proving that he has the leadership qualities to oversee the division.

He is currently attending Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and
Command.

Mark Sajnaj lives in Morris with his wife, Vickie, and their children, Alyssa
and Gabe.

“These three quality individuals and I bring over 100 years of combined experience to the sheriff’s office," Sheriff Callahan noted. "I am confident in their abilities to
help me lead the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office. We look forward to providing the very best in service and protection to the residents of our county.”